Casa de la Amistad Bolivia
Donation protected
I have recently had the profound experience of volunteering for a non profit in Bolivia, supporting severely underprivileged children. More specifically, I have been spending my days in La Casa de la Amistad, a center for kids who’s parents are incarcerated next door in one of Bolivia’s notoriously overpopulated, underfunded, and dangerous prisons. Each child’s situation varies, but the lucky ones live with relatives and the less fortunate live in the jail with their parents (it’s legal in Bolivia up until 6 years old, and past that often overlooked). These children have often witnessed or experienced situations far beyond their years, including domestic abuse, sexual violence, and rampant drug use. Due to one or both parents being incarcerated and Bolivia’s acute lack of any social services, they aren’t able to afford clothes, school supplies, or most importantly medical attention.
La Casa’s primary purpose is to keep them off the streets in order to pursue a path different from their parents. La Casa provides support to 80 children currently, ranging from 3 to 18 years of age. Their population presents a high economic, educational, and psycho-social vulnerability. The hope of the staff and volunteers at La Casa is that each student progresses to the next grade satisfactorily, receives educational support,
two meals a day, medical and dental care, psychological care, and spiritual support. With such care it is hoped that families change their lifestyle.
I want to share Mayra’s story to emphasize how important it is that Casa de la Amistad receives donations. Mayra first started coming to La Casa when she was a toddler because her mom was in the women’s prison. While her mother has now completed her sentence, Mayra’s father is currently incarcerated in the men’s prison, meaning Mayra and her brother are back in La Casa. Mayra is 9 years old and has never been able to read due to poor vision. Both her teachers and parents knew Mayra’s vision was greatly hindering her ability to learn (as well as enjoy many other activities), but there was simply no money to take her to an optometrist. I quickly offered to take Mayra to the eye doctor, and the next day, Mayra, Profe Fabi, Mayra’s mom, and myself went to an optometrist where Mayra had her first ever eye exam. We excitedly picked out a pair of glasses and for the first time in her nine years, Mayra was able to see the world properly. The total of the eye tests, prescription glasses, and all the accessories came to $86. It cost $86 to change this girls life and alter her future in education forever. Mayra is now able to read on her own, play with the other kids, and enjoy television programs.
Casa de la Amistad receives funding from various churches in Bolivia, the US, and Canada; however this funding is only enough to keep the doors open, pay the small staff’s wages, and provide breakfast and lunch to the children.
This means that any sort of medical care such as visits to the optometrist, dental operations, and medicine for various and frequent stomach bugs are unavailable.
Unfortunately there are many other children in La Casa in similar situations to Mayra. One prominent issue is children who have deep cavities, and are in pain, yet unable to get the dental care they need. While the list is never ending, the students who need immediate care are as follows:
Luis, 15: visual impairment
Anabel, 13: dental care
Angel, 9: dental care
Franco, 13: visual impairment
Jhohan, 12: dental care
(Appropriate consent has been given to share names and photos)
Even a small donation can have a serious impact and I sincerely encourage a donation to help these sweet souls get the medical attention they need.
❤️
Muchísimas gracias a todos!!
Organizer
Piper Raleigh
Organizer
Camino, CA